Grief for a free spirit taken by a wild river

Rowley Hill was born in Alice Springs – a Yipirinya boy – and died in the wild waters of the rising Todd, not far south of Wigley’s Gorge, on January 8. He was 23 years old.

A painting of the warm brown river pushing down its rocky course adorned his coffin as he was laid to rest in desert ground on Friday – family and friends in their hundreds, from all parts of the community and beyond, gathering to farewell this “magnetic spirit” who had “burnt brightly and died quickly”.

That last evening he was in great spirits. He called his friend Pirate, instigator of the Black Wreath collective of local musicians, singer with Uncreation; Rowley was the drummer. The Black Wreath logo, symbol of their creativity and drive, also adorned the coffin.

“He was excited that the river was flowing and ready for the next adventure,” recalled Pirate at the graveside.

“He wanted to see his sweetheart Jaz first so he told me to pick him up from the tattoo shop. He came out soaking wet, skating in the rain, popped a huge ollie over the island in the road and jumped into the car. He was beaming.”

It was too hard for Pirate to say much more about what happened. We know that both men got into the water above the gorge, intending to ride the river down to the Telegraph Station. They soon got into difficulty and only Pirate made it out.

He will always wish that fateful day ended differently: “I don’t know why we made the same choice and got a different result.”

Looking back, all of Rowley’s family and friends must wish he’d been more cautious that day, but that was not who he was.

“His life was full, nothing mundane for Rowley, action-packed and high excitement,” she said. “That was how he left us and I’m actually really grateful for that. My little Yipirinya boy grew into a man with integrity, style and most of all he lived his life, his way.”

Black Wreath musicians, Rowley in the white shirt in the centre, Pirate second on his right.

“I’d love to tell Rowley to be careful,” said his friend Rainer Chlanda. “Many tried to tell Rowley. You couldn’t, he wouldn’t listen … He seemed to have the hunger for all things extreme from the absolute get go. It was innate.

“In hindsight I have no desire to do or see anyone else do anything reckless or daring involving water … You mature over these things, you learn, of course, but I know if I was there at the time I would have jumped on that tube without hesitation … I’ve seen him do so many more crazy things and come out unscathed. He was so able and brave and seeming invincible that nothing in his own control could hurt him. It had to be an epic force of nature that eventually he had to surrender to.”

“He taught us to appreciate every moment, to live passionately and cherish our loved ones,” said Pirate.

Rainer saw that too: “He was charismatic, he was funny, he was daring, he was wild, but those who were lucky enough to get to know him closer and well knew he had a whole lot of love, a whole lot of giving, compassion, and he was so goddamn authentic, I couldn’t stress it enough. This was crucial to who Rowley was, he was the realest dude I know.”

His mother Jane spoke of “the many hours of waiting, worrying and at times heartbreak” during his “fast and at times furious” life but she takes great comfort in his recent maturing: “He was happy and looking forward to the future … He loved me and appreciated my commitment to him. He knew he was loved, of that I’m sure.”

His brother Samual Hill acknowledged Rowley’s “larrikin” character yet also stressed the “much deeper side to him – he was loving and caring, he was always there for a chat (usually over a few beers, which I would have to buy of course). He had it all, charm, good looks, wit, and he was genuine.”

His partner Jasmine Gordon said she had never met someone “who was so free-spirited and loved by so many, and absolutely beautiful, and I doubt I ever will again”.

His cousin Jasmin Ulrik commented on “the outpouring of love and hurt from so many people” that showed “how much Rowley impacted so many lives”. She thanked her cousin for his energy, fearlessness “and always, eventually, making us laugh”.

His friend Jamie Toyne remembered him as “the cool kid” but also the one who would always welcome into their friendship group the kids on the periphery “who hadn’t really found their place at high school – there are some people who are here today and many more who would say Rowley was the one who gave them a sense of identity in those early teenage years.”

Those stories abounded at the graveside and later at the wake and laughter lightened for a moment even the heaviest of hearts.

Rowley has gone now, though something surely remains: “I don’t know if he’d be amped to hear me saying this,” said Rainer, “and by no means am I trying to suppose he’s an intangible spirit flying around for all of eternity because imagine how frustrated he would be if he couldn’t hit his drums, couldn’t step on his board, or antagonise his friends, so I’m not supposing that, but his spirit or his soul or whatever you want to call it, his energy, he had so much of it, that just can’t dissipate into nothing, it’s been absorbed somewhere – back into the land.”

And “the tears have flowed”, chanted Skank, “as much as that devastatingly beautiful river”.

Compiled by Kieran Finnane from tributes at the memorial service. Rowley was a close friend from early childhood of Erwin’s and my son, Rainer. We spent many charmed hours in his company as a boy. Later we would share not a few worries with his parents, but joys too, as our boys with their taste for excitement and the extreme grew up. We grieve the loss of his young life and for the pain and sorrow of his family and friends.

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6 Comments (starting with the most recent)

NB: If you want to reply to a previous comment, start your comment with this notation: @n where n is the number of the comment you want to reply to.

Daryl Gray

Posted January 26, 2015 at 7:21 pm

Jane and Richard, I am saddened to hear this news. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

A lovely tribute, Kieran, thank you. I am overseas, and was when I heard the news.
I regret not being there to support all our kids through such a sad time.
I remember Rowley as a bright and vibrant young man, full of energy and a zest for life. Forever young.

Dear Richard and Jane,
I wanted send you my deep sympathy and love on hearing the news of the sad loss of Rowley.
I am a distant cousin through Joyce and the Davis’s, somewhere along the way back, there were brothers that we descend from.
I have kept in touch with Joyce and see her when I can, she stayed here on her way to visit you in 2008. I love being with her and talking of the family.
I was with her when Astor was staying and we accompanied Joyce to a wonderful concert.
There has been another tragic loss in the family, on my Birthday 2nd August 1970, cousins Lysbeth and Victoria Lanyon and Lysbeths two children, Morwenna and Crispin were killed in a motorway car accident. I still miss them.
The tributes to Rowley have been truly heartwarming and amazing, I have been privileged to be able to read them and hear of this special soul.
I wanted to share with you from a distance (I spoke to Richard) while he was over in the UK.
I am thinking of you all in your sadness and pray you will find strength and peace at this very difficult time. I can see and sense Rowley will never be forgotten and has touched so many people with his spirit and love.
With my love to you, Rosie.

A beautiful tribute to such a fine young man. Thanks, Kieran. There were many along the way who didn’t “get” Rowley’s approach to life … but he certainly lived it his way. To his uncles Chris and Punji, Samuel, Ashley (Yamba), Jamie, Rainer, Jaz, Jasmine, Hugh, Pirate and Jane … thanks to you each for your words and heartfelt memories of so much that we will all long remember of “our Rowley”. May he rest and for always in peace. He certainly deserves that.

Richard, It is heartening to see so many people attending the service for Rowley who was greatly loved by many. It must have given you some real support on a very difficult day. Marcus said some very kind and appropriate words as we gathered at Old Sarum on Sunday to commemorate Rowley and all those who remembered something special about him shared these memories.